USB Type-C Gen. 2 is still rather uncommon on notebooks. The single-chip controller solution from Cypress should make it less expensive for both Intel and AMD to integrate multiple USB Type-C Gen. 2 ports onto laptops while allowing for 100 W power delivery and better fail-safe mechanisms.

Cypress Semiconductors Inc. offers microcontrollers for a broad range of consumer and industrial applications including IoT, smarthome, and automotive solutions. One particular application is its EZ-PD controller designed for laptops and desktop PCs. Its EZ-PD CCG5 controller was recently certified by Intel for use in Thunderbolt 3 devices and AMD has today confirmed the same for its Raven Ridge platform via a public press release.

USB controllers may be insignificant to the average consumer, but they play a key role in making sure connected USB devices can communicate and charge no matter the client without damaging the circuits on either end. The Cypress EZ-PD CCG5 is notable for three reasons; it is the first single-chip controller for two USB Type-C Gen. 2 ports and it integrates 128 KB of programmable flash memory with additional analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The former will allow AMD to integrate two USB Type-C ports onto its laptops more cheaply while the latter allows the controller to store multiple firmware images for fail-safe and reliability purposes. Lastly, the ADCs can prevent overvoltages while also supporting 100 W Power Delivery 3.0 similar to Thunderbolt 3.

We can hopefully begin to see more notebooks equipped with Raven Ridge as a direct consequence of this announcement. Systems with dual USB Type-C ports and USB charging should prove convenient in the Ultrabook space where the existing Ryzen 5 2500U and Ryzen 7 2700U APUs work best.

Accelerates the Proliferation of USB-C Universal Connectivity and Power Delivery in AMD “Raven Ridge” Platforms

COMPUTEX, TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 5, 2018—Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: CY), the embedded solutions leader, today announced that its programmable EZ-PD™ CCG4 two-port USB-C controller with Power Delivery (PD) has been qualified by AMD for use with its “Raven Ridge” processors for notebook and desktop PCs. The controller delivers robust USB and DisplayPort connectivity and fast charging to AMD’s “Raven Ridge” reference designs, simplifying integration of plug-and-play USB-C for PC makers and accelerating time-to-market.

The EZ-PD CCG4 controller offers a highly reliable and integrated solution for desktops, notebooks and other systems with two USB-C ports. The controller includes 128KB flash memory that can store dual-firmware images for a fail-safe boot, increasing the reliability of the system, and it enables firmware updates in the field. It offers the EZ-PD family’s trademark programmability to keep up with evolving industry standards. More information on the CCG4 controller is available at http://www.cypress.com/ccg4.

“Qualification of our EZ-PD controllers by AMD has put Cypress in a prime position to drive the ramp of USB-C connectivity in the PC market,” said Ajay Srikrishna, vice president of Cypress’ Wired Connectivity Business Unit. “Our leading USB-C solutions such as EZ-PD CCG4, the industry’s first two-port USB-C controller, make it easy for our customers to bring the benefits of reliable, USB-IF-certified USB-C connectivity and fast charging to the market.”

In the “Raven Ridge” reference design, the EZ-PD CCG4 controller interfaces with the embedded controller to enable the use of USB Type-C Connector System Software Interface (UCSI), which is a standardized mechanism for operating systems to monitor and control power delivery and the multiple protocols on a USB-C port in a PC. The programmable CCG4 solution enables UCSI and custom firmware development using the EZ-PD software development kit (SDK) and the Cypress Host Processor Interface (HPI). The CCG4 controller also controls the “Raven Ridge” processor’s built-in USB-DisplayPort mux over I2C, controlling the switching of the USB 3.1 Generation 2 signals and DisplayPort signals on the USB-C port.

The one-chip controller integrates an ARM® Cortex®-M0 processor, 128KB flash, two 1W Vconn Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) that provide power to USB-C cables, and four analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that protect the system against overvoltage and overcurrent conditions. Integrated electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuits provide system-level protection up to 15kV. CCG4 also contains 4 serial communication blocks, each of which can be configured to I2C, SPI or UART serial protocols.

The USB Type-C and Power Delivery standards are gaining rapid support with top-tier electronics manufacturers by enabling slim industrial designs, easy-to-use connectors and cables, and the ability to transmit multiple protocols and deliver up to 100 Watts of power. The USB Type-C standard’s 2.4-mm-high connector plug is significantly smaller than the current 4.5-mm USB Standard-A connector. More info on Cypress’ USB-C and USB-PD solutions is available at www.cypress.com/Type-C.

Cypress is the leader in advanced embedded solutions for the world’s most innovative automotive, industrial, smart home appliances, consumer electronics and medical products. Cypress’ microcontrollers, analog ICs, wireless and USB-based connectivity solutions and reliable, high-performance memories help engineers design differentiated products and get them to market first. Cypress is committed to providing customers with the best support and development resources on the planet enabling them to disrupt markets by creating new product categories in record time. To learn more, go to www.cypress.com.

After graduating with a B.S. in environmental hydrodynamics from the University of California, I studied reactor physics to become licensed by the U.S. NRC to operate nuclear reactors. There's a striking level of appreciation you gain for everyday consumer electronics after working with modern nuclear reactivity systems astonishingly powered by computers from the 80s. When I'm not managing day-to-day activities and US review articles on Notebookcheck, you can catch me following the eSports scene and the latest gaming news.